Anew

17

Gabriel had forgotten how much he hated school.

Homework...P.E....cafeteria food? What had he gotten himself into?

School had been a very bad idea.

He grabbed his lunch food, bit back a sigh of despair, and made his way over to where Scarlet and Heather were seated.

“Hey.” Scarlet smiled up at him with her perfect, kissable lips and radiant blue eyes. He studied them for a moment. Were they bluer than they’d been yesterday? It was hard to tell.

A pang of concern shot through him as he took in her sweet face and, suddenly, he was overwhelmed with the desire to keep her safe.

“Hey, beautiful,” he said.

“So, I was thinking.” Scarlet leaned forward. “How about I come to your house after school today?” She smiled. “We can ‘study’ in your bedroom this time.”

Well, that certainly wouldn’t be happening.

Tristan would kill him.

Scarlet batted her lashes. “Please?”

Oh, crap. He was going to sound like a jerk. “I would love that, but today won’t work.”

Why won’t it work? Come up with something good. Come on, come on….

“It won’t?” Scarlet’s big eyes looked hurt.

“Unfortunately today…” What do I say? Think, think… “My house is being fumigated.”

Wow. Terrible excuse.

Heather coughed.

Scarlet raised her eyebrows. “Fumigated?”

He was committed now. “Yeah, you know, we have lots of those big…Georgia bugs.”

What in the world was he saying?

Scarlet nodded slowly. “Oh.”

Gabriel wanted to kick himself.

“Maybe next week,” he said, putting as much charm as possible into the smile he gave her.

Scarlet tucked her lips in and nodded her head. “Yeah. Sure. Next week.” She looked down at her food.

Gabriel moved his eyes and caught Heather glaring at him with an eyebrow raised.

I know, I know.

Busted.